Conveyer for heat treating furnaces



CONVEYER EOR HEAT TREATING FURNACES Filed lAug. 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Y |,NvENToR` Clarence Win/rea Spicer ATTORNEY` jm. 2E, i9@ f c. w.sPxcER @02,479

CONVEYER FOR HEAT TREA''ING FURNACES Fned Aug. 5. i931A -3 sheets-sheet2 I r/0 a 0 /0 n f' red Spicer Jan- 21, 1935 c. W. sP'ncE'R 2,4?

CONVEYER FOR HEAT TREATING FURNACES Filed Aug. 5. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR Clarence Winfred jpiccr B 1 'i l 5, ture .truien is iightPatented Jan. Z1, 1936 i?" per.

CONVYR Fon HEAT 'iit'rING Y FURNACES j Clarence Wlnfred Spicer, Toledo,Ohio 3 Claims.

, Mynvention relates to `flexible metal belts especially that type whichis used Lfor the conveyf ingof bodies to beheat treated through afurnaceand has for itsobject to provide a struol in weight with amaximum yoff strength. Asfurther vobject is to -provide a link of designwhich will prolong the life of the belt. beltsho'f4 this characterheretofore used, the mass of metal in the belt was a great disadvanH iotage because it required an immense amount of Y heat todheat the beltbeforel the varticles to be heat treated could be brought up to therequired temperature and when attempts have been made to reduce the massin the belt, weaknesses have 15 developed causing failure in the belt.In my inn v vention I provide a construction in which the maximumstrength of the metal is utilized.

The foregoing and other features of my inven tion will now be describedin connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this spec--ication in which I have represented my traveling belt in its preferredform after which I shall point out more particularly in the claims thosefeatures which I believe to be new and of my own i invention.

In the dra\vings:-Figure l is a diagrammatic assembly in part section ofmy conveyer as embodied in a heat treating furnace.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a series of links in a :lo belt of one oi mypreferred designs.

Figure 3 is a side view of same.

Figure 4 is a modification of link arrangement to present a belt thatprovides full area for small work.

:l5 Figure 5 is a modification of link presenting a smooth belt on bothsides and therefore reversible tot distribute wear.

Figure 6 is a side View Y0i link shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 shows a series of blanks which could be cut singly or inmultiple from a strip before forming and welding with weld at end oflink as shown in Figure 6'. t

Figure 8 shows a series of blanks as shown in 45 Figure '7, the weldvbeing in middle of the link as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 9 shows how belts now in use fail because of slight wear at theeyes.

Figure I0 shows a chain made of links ccn- 50 structedout of seamless orwelded tubing.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of structure shown in Figure 10. Y

Figure l2 is an end view of construction similar to Figure but with theends of the tubes turned up to form guards at the edges of the belt.

' the link shown in Figure (Ci. 19a- 193) Figure i3 is a side elevationof structure shown in Figure l2. A, L .L-

:Infcarrying-` out my, invention as illustrated in Figures l to,myendless belt comprises a. plurality of links mand ii madepreferablyfrom a suitable heat resisting metal ribbon, linked4 toegether upon a plurality of pintles l. This belt passes over two drumsvor sprockets 'Cfiiend usuf ally drags on a supporting table tepositioned in a heat treating furnace lll. The links comprjsing my beltas illustrated. inFigures to `t are made of sheet metal havingheat-resistant characteristics and of substantially flat cross sectionformed at each end with eyes for engaging the pintles 2G formed bybending the material over on itself.

In the construction shown in Figures 2 and 3, the ends are bent so thatthey over-lap each other and are secured to the center of the link byrivet-- ing or by Welding if desired as shown at l2. It will be observedthat this link presents a fiat side i3 which is substantially straightand this side is designed to drag on the table it whereby a max-- imumsurface is exposed which gives longer life. End links may be formed, ifdesired, with a side flange which is bent up to form a rail as shown atl5.

In links illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 it will be observed thatthe ends of the blank do not over-lap but are butt welded after thepreferred method of making welded tubing. In link shown in Figure 6 theweld is at 59. The blanks for this type of link are shown in Figure 7,while 5 the weld is at Sil. Blanks for this modification are shown inFig ure 8.

I may, vdesire to form my links from seamless or Welded tubing as shownin Figures l0, 1l, l2, and I3. In that case the tubing may be the fullWidth or any. part of the belt and formed either oval or round and thenflattened. The tubing 8l] is provided with openings iii which are outout of the tubing either before forming and Welding into tubing or canbe cut out from the tube after welding. The tube is then attened andassen bled on pintles 2l! as shown in Figure ll. Should it be desirableto have a guard 85 on the edge of the belt the ends of the tubing may beturned up as shown in Figures 12 and 13. This guard may serve both toretain the work on the top of the i' belt and as a guide co-actingwithtable 40 or other part of the device to keep the belt running in thedesired position.

YIn belts of this character andwith ordinary shape of 1ink as shown inFigure 9, wear is rapid because theeyes present at rst only a linecontact with the table which rapidly Wears through as shown at 1Ucausing the belt to fail.

It will be obvious that a belt made of links after the design shown inFigures 1, 2, 3, and 4 uses less material than usual designs andpresents a smooth belt surface on one side which gives a .maximum ofWear for non-reversible belts and that a belt made of links after any ofthe designs shown in Figures 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12 uses the least possiblematerial for a belt having also the advantages of smooth surface on bothsides and reversibility.

With my construction I not only provide a link With maximum surfaceContact with table but a belt that can be reversed thus greatlyincreasing the life of the belt.

It will be observed that with this construction the links are threadedon the pintles in a continuous line which provides a maximum of bearingsurface.

I Wish it distinctly understood that my flexible metal belt hereinillustrated and described is in the form in which I desire to constructit but that changes or variations may be made as may be convenient ordesirable Without departing from the salient features of my inventionand I therefore intend the following claims to cover such modificationsas naturally fall Within the lines of invention.

I claim:

l. In combination with a heat treating furnace, a table; a conveyer topass over said table Y comprising a series of links of heat resistantma- Y terial of substantially flat cross-section; and eyes formed in theends of said links by bending portions of the material into contact withone another to form a substantially flat surface arranged to expose amaximum Wear area to said table, said portions of the material beingsecured by Welding.

2. In combination with a heat treating furnace, a. table; a conveyer topass over said table comprising a series of links of heat resistantmaterial of Substantially at cross section having portions thereof bentto form eyes at the ends of said links, Contact between said portionsbeing made at one of said eyes whereby substantially at surfaces areformed on the faces of said links to expose a maximum wear area to saidtable, said flat surfaces being free from joints or connesting means.

3. In combination with a heat treating furnace, a table; a conveyerpassing over said table comprising a series of links of heat resistantmate-v rial of substantially flat cross section having portions thereofbent to form eyes at the ends of said links, the remaining portionsforming substantially flat surfaces on the faces of said links to exposea maximum Wear area to said table, said ilat surfaces being free fromjoints or connecting means.

CLARENCE WIN FRED SPICER.

